• Questions BBMB’s lack of data about Bhakra Dam’s lifespan & siltation
• EM urges opposition to prioritise welfare of people over political gains to rehabilitate flood-hit Punjab
Chandigarh, September 26:
In the aftermath of the recent floods that ravaged the state, Punjab Education and Information & Public Relations Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains moved beyond political rhetoric to find a future-focused strategy to prevent such disasters in future and rehabilitation of the flood-hit state. He also raised the serious question on the working of the BBMB and false narrative created by the opposition to politicise the natural disaster.
In a poignant address during the special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, S. Harjot Singh Bains urged the opposition to prioritise the welfare of the people over political gains. He highlighted the devastating impact of the floods, which have claimed 59 human lives, destroyed houses, decimated thousands livestock, and dealt a severe blow to the state’s agricultural sector. He emphasised that the true extent of the tragedy is far greater, with many lives lost to secondary causes such as snake bites, isolation due to disrupted connectivity in flood-hit areas. The Education Minister also drew attention to the severe strain on public infrastructure, with over 3,200 schools affected and more than 1,300 classrooms rendered unusable.
“Five lakh acres of crop have been destroyed. The economy of Punjab, which stands on these crops, has come to a standstill. The women who would not let anyone enter their homes with dusty shoes are now seeing their courtyards filled with mud,” he shared.
S. Harjot Singh Bains launched a scathing attack on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), citing a misleading statement made by its Chairman in the High Court. S. Bains presented technical data from the Central Water Commission’s April 24 report, revealing alarming water storage deficits in Punjab’s key reservoirs (44.85% below normal) and Himachal Pradesh reservoirs (40.60% shortfall). He alleged that despite the critical water shortage, BBMB attempted to divert Punjab’s share of water to Haryana when the Bhakra Dam’s water level had plummeted to 1555 feet, imperilling the power house’s operations.
Raising a critical question regarding the Gobind Sagar reservoir, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated, “It’s shocking that the BBMB can’t even provide information on the extent of siltation in the reservoir of Bhakra dam, which was designed with a 100-year lifespan. What is its remaining life now – 10 years, 15 years, or less?” He demanded the immediate constitution of an expert-led committee to assess the reservoir’s capacity, sedimentation levels and structural stress, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the critical dam.
The Education Minister emphasised the importance of constructing check dams in catchment areas of dams to mitigate sudden water inflows, a measure previously recommended by BBMB reports but regrettably overlooked. “We must have a meaningful discussion on climate change and infrastructure preparedness. It’s imperative to study our dams and catchment areas and take proactive measures to avert this kind of tragedy in future,” he stressed.
“It’s been 10 days, and our Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, hasn’t received a single communication from the Prime Minister, who has managed to find time for roadshows in other states. This is the moment for the Centre to empathise with and understand Punjab’s pain,’ S. Harjot Singh Bains said while urging the Central Government to provide urgent support to flood-hit Punjab and adopt a bipartisan approach to address the pressing issues.
He also questioned the Prime Minister’s behaviour towards his cabinet colleague, Hardip Singh Mundian, saying, When Sh. Mundian was pleading for help for flood-ravaged Punjab, the Prime Minister humiliated him by asking him don’t you understand Hindi. Would the Prime Minister dare to say the same in Tamil Nadu, asking someone, “You don’t know Hindi?”
He said that Punjab has borne the weight of history’s scars, and today its wounds are bleeding. Yet, in this hour of need, countless individuals have come together to support each other. He praised the volunteers, officials and citizens, while adding “We stood strong, prevented major breaches, and now we pray for Punjab’s recovery. Our state lives on the values of compassion and service, and those who uphold these values will always be our guiding light.”
